Neuroanesthesia & neurocritical care
Beliefs of physician directors on the management of devastating brain injuries at the Canadian emergency department and intensive care unit interface: a national site-level survey
Authors' conclusion
In our survey of Canadian EM and CCM physician directors, 80% participated in WLSM in the ED for patients with DBI. Despite this, most supported ICU admission to optimize neuroprognostication and patient-centred end-of-life care, including organ donation.
Study context
- Population
- Emergency medicine (EM) and critical care medicine (CCM) physician directors of adult emergency department (EDs) and intensive care unit (ICUs) across Canada (December 2022 to March 2023)of 303 eligible (32%)
- Participants
- 98 participants
- Exposure
- EM vs CCM physician directors
- EM physician directorsn = 46
- CCM physician directorsn = 52
- Outcome
- Proportion of respondents who manage (or consult on) patients with devastating brain injury (DBI) in the ED
Methodological detailsnational site-level survey
- National site-level survey
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Participation in decision to withdraw life-sustaining measures (WLSM) for patients with DBI in the ED
Participated in withdraw life-sustaining measures (WLSM) decision in the ED
80%, n = 78
Of these, said this was infrequent
63%, n = 62
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Beliefs on neuroprognostication and ICU admission
- Existing neuroprognostication methods rarely sufficient to support WLSM in the ED
- 49%, n = 48
- ICU stay required to improve confidence
- 99%, n = 97
- Caregiver visitation time before WLSM a valid reason for ICU admission
- 96%, n = 94
Original publication
Beliefs of physician directors on the management of devastating brain injuries at the Canadian emergency department and intensive care unit interface: a national site-level survey. Can J Anaesth. Published 3 April 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →